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Case Reports
. 2021 Jan;25(1):55-58.
doi: 10.7874/jao.2020.00045. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Wernicke Encephalopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Angie Nu Ton  1 , Trisha Jethwa  1 , Greta C Stamper  2 , Ashley Yenior  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Wernicke Encephalopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Angie Nu Ton et al. J Audiol Otol. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is seldom associated with Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) or thiamine deficiency. While thiamine deficiency and repletion are often considered prior to dextrose infusions in patients with chronic alcohol abuse to prevent WE, they are often overlooked in non-alcoholic patients who are also at risk for malnutrition. In this paper we describe a case of a non-alcoholic 28-year-old female status post-sleeve gastrectomy who developed SNHL in the setting of thiamine deficiency and WE, with ongoing hearing impairment requiring hearing aids despite thiamine repletion.

Keywords: Hearing loss; Thiamine deficiency; Wernicke encephalopathy.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Audiogram showing mild and slight sensorineural hearing loss in the right and left ear, respectively, status one year post-acute Wernicke encephalopathy and thiamine repletion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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